Science Education Then and Now

I can still vividly remember being taught lab safety in 7th or 8th grade chemistry at school. The old way: being given a long list of rules, reading them and being tested on them. No eating, drinking, chewing gum etc. etc. Many of the same rules apply in my lab at the university.

What’s changed? The way the rules are being taught in school-and for the better!

Here’s a video made by a group of kids (including my daughter) to creatively address safety skills in physical science labs, with the text given below:

Credits to the cameraman, my 9 y old son.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W4u9RX31Xg

Our science project about safety skills.

Lyrics:

Mr. Erixon- Good afternoon!

Naomi, Mika, and Katie- Good afternoon, Mr. Erixon.

Mr. Erixon- Is everyone excited for the acid test that could burn holes through your hands if you aren’t prepared? Are you guys prepared?

Naomi, Mika, and Katie- Yes, Mr. Erixon.

Mr. Erixon- I think not! I mean look at you, Katie, you have way too much hair- it’s going to get burned off.

Mika- But I think it’s pretty…..

Mr. Erixon- I don’t care. And then Mika, with all of your jewelry, you know, it’s going to just…kill you! Then Naomi….Na-Naomi!

I want those skills, I want them bad,
I want those safety skills, I’m going mad, I want those skills.
Skills, skills, skills, I want those skills.
My science teacher tells me not to wear jewels.
He also tells me no baggy clothes, no baggy clothes.
Clothes, clothes, clothes, no baggy clothes.

You know that I want them.
And you know that I need them.
I want to be safe,
Safety skills

I want those safety skills, I want them bad, you know I want those safety skills,
Woah woah woah……..
I want those safety skills so I won’t be had, you know I want those safety skills,
Woah woah woah…….. I want those safety skills x2

You know that I want them.
And you know that I need them.
I want to be safe,
Safety skills

I want those safety skills, I want them bad, you know I want those safety skills,
Woah woah woah……..
I want those safety skills so I won’t be had, you know I want those safety skills,
Woah woah woah…….. I want those safety skills x2

I want those safety skills, I want them bad, you know I want those safety skills,
Woah woah woah……..
I want those safety skills so I won’t be had, you know I want those safety skills,
Woah woah woah…….. I want those safety skills x2

About Steve Caplan

I am a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska where I mentor a group of about 10 students, postdoctoral fellows and researchers working on endocytic protein trafficking. My first lablit novel, "Matter Over Mind," is about a biomedical researcher seeking tenure and struggling to overcome the consequences of growing up with a parent suffering from bipolar disorder. Lablit novel #2, "Welcome Home, Sir," published by Anaphora Literary Press, deals with a hypochondriac principal investigator whose service in the army and post-traumatic stress disorder actually prepare him well for academic, but not personal success. Novel #3, "A Degree of Betrayal," is an academic murder mystery that is now in press! All views expressed are my own, of course--after all, I hate advertising.
http://www.stevecaplan.net